Automatic locking device for motor and other vehicles



J. W. PEACOCK.

AUTOMATIC LOCKING DEVICE FOR MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19. I921.

Patented 0012. M), 1922..

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- J. W. PEACOCK. AUTOMATIC LOCKING DEVICE FOR 'MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19. 192].

ll ,41,%1|. Patented 001 ML 1922.,

Q 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Oct. 10, W22

eta-u Jenn ILLIAM :ennooerz, or snarl-1AM; nnenann.

AUTOMATIC LOCKING DEVICE FOR Mo'ronnn'n OTHER VEHICLES.

Application filed March 19, 1921. Serial No. 453,731.

.To all whom'z't may concern:

Be it known that LJoHN WILnIAMTnA cm a subject of the King of Great Britaln,

residingat 120 Henry Street, Chatham, in

topasslongitudinally through and to bring the county of Kent,England, have invented certaincnew and usefulImprovements in or Relating to Automatic LockingDevices for into action permutation mechanism capable of beingadjustecl to a position whereby the membermay be operated to unlock the steering imechanism. The permutation mecha nism COIIIPIISGS- means associated with said member which permit of thelatter being moved. freelyinone direction whilst preventing-its return until the saidmeans have been adjusted or set by means of a'code, the index or indicator for which may be arranged onor adjaeent the hubtof the hand steering wheel. The locking device isalso so constructed and adapted to operate so as to prevent the code combination for operating thepermutation mechanism being left flpenif left for the driver in the unlocking position and to"avoid the jnecessity of breaking jthe combination to :frustrate unauthorizedunlocking. The combination therefore is automatically broken in vthe act of unlocking, thus preventing any possibility of said combination being left in a position for unlockingwhich might hap- .to break or change thecombination. *1 .1 a

In orderthattheinvention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect thesame will now be more fully described withthe aidofthe accompanying drawing in which: i t a i a a pljligure 1 is a plan view of the hand steering wheel of a motor car with the invention applied, i at I I l Figure 2 is a vertical section of the wheel and a portion of the steering column show ing the permutation mechanism. 1 I

Figure 2 1S adetail-hereinafter referred to. a

Figures 3 and 4 are detail views herein: after referred to. v

a 18 the wheel and b the column within which the permutationlocking mechanism is mounted, whilst a is the central member prov1ded W1tl1 an operating knob or handle which maybe in the form of a cap. In

Figure 2 the memberc is shown raised to bring into actionapprop'riate devices conneoted thereto for locking the movement of thesteering column 6. Such devices comprise a pawl d or its equivalent attached tothe lower end ofthe member 0 and adapted to be broughtintoengagement with a slot 6 in the central steering column bearing as shown in steering worm casing see Fig ure 2. The member 0 is preferably of a telescopic character with a spring a interposed betweenthe two parts, said spring being designed and. arranged. within the member 0 in such a manneras to take up any force or shock. on the member when the parts are in the locked position, whilst being suflicient to release the pawl when requiring to unlock thesteering mechanism. The outer part of the member 0 is 3 provided with a slot or groove 0 which receivesa pin or projection gitudinal movement. The upper outer part 'of the member 0 is ofcup-shape fitted with a projection c flexibly or resiliently mounted and. co-operating with internal teeth 5 which revolve ina collar made in two halves screwed in the top of column I), said projection 0 serving when the member 0 is Praised to prevent its return except when the parts are in a predetermined position which may be obtained by the code or index on 'the hub of the wheel a.

Teeth or serrations c concentric to the member 0 also cooperate with the internal projection 0 on the cup-shaped portion of the member 0 to prevent the lock being opened or the parts being returned to their [normal position without previously setting the indicator according to the code necessary for adjusting v6 on the column Z) to prevent rotation of the 1 member 0 whilst allowing fornecessary lonas will hereinafter be explained.

the parts for unlocking. On said cupshaped portion being raised to the position shown in Figure 2, a spring pawl b projecting through the column or pillar b is provided, see Figure 3, to take beneath the shoulder of the member 0 so as to hold up the member 0 with the projections c and 0 clear of teeth and 0* to allow the combination to revolve and be set for unlocking as well as afi'ord greater security against the projections c and c and teeth 6 and 0 being disengaged without proper adjustment The indicater as shown in Figure 1 consists of a pointer f mounted on an extension of the part carrying the teeth or serrations c and rotatable over or adjacent an index f bearing letters or their equivalent any one of which may form a key letter of the code; A similar series of letters is arranged'on the ring f on the hub of the hand steering wheel, said ring 7 being mounted adjacent a-fiange a ofthe hub carrying the internal teeth 6 The flange ais furnished with a radiating line or lines, see Figure 1, which serve to locate any particular letter on the ring f forming part of the code.

Thus, assuming the steering column or pillar has been locked against rotation and the parts are adjusted according to the code necessary to bring the parts to a position whereby the member 0 may be returned to its normal position the indicators on being set to the code will bring the teeth or serrations and their co-operating projections into such a position as will permit of the unrestricted movement of the member 0. Such movement is provided for by cutting vertical grooves or slots in the parts carrying the teeth or serrations so that when such parts are adjusted by means of the index f and flange (1' the movement of the member 0 to its normal position may be brought about. ,Thus the ring of internal teeth Z9 is continuous except for a slot formed at one place into which slot the projectionc may'move when the parts have been adjusted to the unlocking position. Similarly the'part 0* is provided with a slot 0 into which the projection 0 may move when the part c has been rotated to the proper position. The projections 0 and c forv co-operating with the teeth or serrations are mounted on spring blades 0 0 respectively so that when the locking movement takes place the projections will pass the teeth or serrations at any position of the parts carrying the teeth or serrations and alsothe pawl b Figure 3, thus enabling the mechanism to be locked without using the code or key and thereby ensuring of greater security or secrecy. The pawl 12 is furnished with a milled head I) whereby it may be withdrawn after'the parts have been adjusted for unlocking'to enable the member a to be depressed.

It will be understood from the above that in order to effect the unlocking the parts must be brought into such position that the projection 0 will engage in the slot 0* in the part 0* and the projection (2 will engage in the slot in the ring of teeth 72 To effect this the member carrying the index 7 is rotated by means of the flange a to bring the slot in the ring 6 beneath the projection and the member 0 is rotated to bring the slot 0 beneath the projection It is obvious therefore, that when the parts are being assembled the index f (which is printed upon 7 a card or other ring shaped member adapted to be clamped, screwed or otherwise detachably secured to its support) may be arranged in such a position that when any desired letter thereon is opposite any desired letter on the index f the ring is in correct position for the projection c to engage in the slot therein. Similarly the angular position of the pointer f may be so chosen that when it points to any desired letter on the index 7' the member 0 will be adjusted so that the projection 0 is immediately above the slot a In this way any desired combination of three letters may be chosen to constitute the code.

For preventing the parts being left in a. position corresponding to that of the code the slot 0 formed in the part c is curved and provided with a cam surface (see Figure 2) so that when after the part c has been rotated to bring the slot into such position that the projection 0 can engage therein, upon the member 0 being depressed the said projection 0 will ride on the cam surface of the slots 0 and cause the part carrying the teeth 0 to be rotated on ball bearings c and the combination of the code broken so that there can be no possibility of the mechanism being left with the indicator set to the code required to unlock the mechanism after the steering has been automatically locked by simply raising the memher (3. The cap or knob of the member 0 when in the unlocked position serves to enclose and protect the part carrying the pointer 7, see Figure 4. When requiring to change the code this may be efi'ected by the owner of the vehicle adjusting the position of the pointer f. To carry out such change the parts must be brought first to the locked position, the pawl withdrawn to ermit the projections 0 c to engage the teeti I) 0* so as to prevent movement of the revolving parts, the caps and the glass covers 0 removed when the pointer f may be adjusted to any other desirable position. lVhen desired the pointer may be provided with a projection adapted to engage a groove or grooves cut in the boss 0" around which the indicator is secured. Similarly the index f may be provided with projections adapted to engage corresponding slots or openings cut whicl'ithe glass cover is mounted.

To enable tl 'e parts to be assembled or made integral withthehand steering wheels the spokes g of the 'latter may be divided as shown iIIFig'UTI-E 2,and formed in one with half'collarsg adapted to be secured in position around the steering column by screws h, the rimof the wh'eel being recessed at a and attached tothe spolres by screws 6 and fillets a An arrow on the rim of the steering wheel a denotesthe top and locking powhna; the

is equally applicable to other vehicles such a as cycles, in which connection the lock mecha 'nsm nmybemOiinted in a tubular fitting which may constitute) the handle bar stem, 1 pafwl or lever at the lower end connected to the member jc may pass through a clearance provided. in the fork stem and engage in a recess or slot in thehead tube "y'when requirmg to loci; or prevent the steer- I in ofthe cycle; a

What I claim and desireto secureby Letters Patents-[ the United States e 1 A lockingdevice itor vehicles com 'iris ing a longitudinally movable member, a loc ting pawl carried thereby, projections on said member,serrations concentric with said memberedapted tote-operate with projections 1 to prevent the said member being moved to, unlocking position, slots in SaId SGTTMJOIIS, an'md1catoradapted to be i set to a code combination; and means Where'- Vwhensaidindicator 'isset to a redeter= minedcodecbmbinaltion the aforesaid slots are brought into registry with the pro ections to enable the aforesa d member to be movedto unlocking position. I

"* QJA; locking device forveliicles compris ing a longitudinally movable member, a:

registry witlithe pro ections" to ena locking pjawl carried thereby, projections on said member, teeth concentric with said member adapted to cooperate with said projections to prevent the said member beiiigmovedto unlockingposition, slots in said teeth, an indicator adaptedto be set to a code combination, means whereby"when said infdicator is set tof predetermined codecom bilnation the aforesaid slots are brought into 8;, A locking device for vehicles compris- 1 1 ing a longitudinally movable member, 21/ iOCk'1 ing pawl carried thereby, projections on said member, teeth concentric with said member adapted to co-operate with said projections to prevent the saidmembe r being moved; to

unlockingposition, slots in said teeth, an indicator adapted to beset to a code com- V invention is shown' applied to the hand steering wheel of'a motor car 1t m an d bination, means whereby whenfsaid indicator is set to a predetermined code COInlOlIlEt tlon the ai'oresaid slots are brought into registry with the projections to enable the ing column or post oi the vehicle means for lifting said member to lock the said column or post against movement, projections carried by said member, a series of teeth adapted when the member isin locking position to engage saidprojectionsto prevent the down wardmovement oi the said member, slots insaid series of teeth and means for bring-' ingsaid slots .into registry with said proections to enable the said member to move downwardly into locking posltionr i 5. A locking device for the steering j mechanism of vehicles comprising a-member longitudinally movable within the hollow steering column or post of the vehicle, means for lifting said member to lock the said-column or post against movemenhinwardly and outwardiy directed resiliently mounted projections carried by said mem ber, twoseries of teeth adapted whenthe member is in looking position to engage the projections, slots in saidseries oi teethand means for bringing the said slotsinto' registry with. said projections to enable the said member to move downwardly into unlocking position. a i i i Y a 6. A locking device for thesteering mecha nism oi vehicles comprising a meinber longb tudinaliy movablewvithiin the'hollow steering column or post oi? the vehicles means for lifting said member to lock the said column or post against movement, projections carried by said member, a series or teeth adapted when the member is in locl cing position to engage said PTO] (actions to prevent the downwarr'i movement of the said momber lots in salt ice or teeth, means imibring ngsaid slots into regist y th enable the saidinenil ;r to move downwardly into unlocking position and means for indiwiththe said projections 7-. a lOClUIlg deviceftor the steeri ehicles a member longitude members, an index associated with one of said projections to i eating; wheny the said slots 'are in registry said movable toothed members, pointer associatedwith the other of said movable toothed members, a fixed index, and means whereby'the said toothed members may be angular position of the said pointer a -d the said movable index to permit the downward movement of the longitudinally movable member into locking position.

' 8. In a locking device for the steering mechanism of vehicles a member longitudi} nally movable within the hollow steering column or postv oi the vehicle, projections carried by the said member, movable toothed members, an index associated with one of said movable toothed members, a pointer associated with the other said movable toothed members, a fixed index and means whereby-the downward movement of the said longitudinall; movable member said cup shaped member, a series of teeth arranged within said cup shaped member, a slot in the ring and series of teeth respectively and means for rotating the said ring and said series of teeth to bring the slots therein into registry with the aforesaid internal and external'projections.

10. A locking device for the steering mechanism of vehicles comprising a telescopic member arranged within the hollow steering column or post of the vehicle, a locking pawl carried by said member extending through and movable in a slot in the said column or post, means forraising said member, a cup shaped member on the upper part of said telescopic member, internal and external projections carried by said cup-shaped member, a. ring of upwardly, projecting teeth surrounding said cup shaped member, a slot in the ring and seriesgof teeth respectively and means for rotating the said ring and said series of teeth to bring the slot into registry with the aforesaid internal and external pro jections for the purpose specified. I

11, Permutation locking mechanism for the steering mechanism of vehicles comprising an annular toothed member carrying an index, a second toothed member carrying a pointer, a member longltudlnally movable in the hollow steering column or post of the vehicle, a locking pawl in said member, means for raising said member,

projections on said member adapted when themember is in raised position to engage with the teeth of the said second toothed member to prevent the downward movement of the said longitudinally movable member, and means for rotating the said toothed members to bring them into positions according to the relative positions of the said pointer and index determined by a code to permit the aforesaid projections vto pass into slots in the toothed members and cause the unlocking of the steering mechanism.

12. In. a locking device for the steering mechanism of .ehicles, a member longitudinally movable within the hollow steering column or post of the vehicle, projections carried by the said member, movable toothed members, an index associated with one of said movable toothed members, a pointer associated with the other of said movable toothed members, a fixed index, means whereby the said toothed members may be moved into positions predetermined by the angular position of the said pointer and the said movable index to permit the downward movement of the longitudinally movable member into unlocking position, and an index and pointer associated respectively with the ring and series of teeth to indicate according to a predetermined code when the said projections and slots are in registry.

13. Permutation locking mechanism for the steering mechanism of vehicles comprising an annular toothed member carrying an index, a second toothed member carrying a pointer, a member longitudinally movable in the hollow steering column or post of the vehicle, a locking pawl on said member, means for raising said member, projections on said member adapted when the member is in raised position to engage with the teeth of thesaid two toothed members to prevent the downward movement of the said longitudinally movable member, means for rotating the said toothed members to bring them into positions according to the relative positions of the said pointer and index determined by a code to permit the aforesaid projections to pass into slots in the toothed members and cause the unlocking of the steering mechanism, and means whereby the movement of the said longitudinally movable member automatically breaks the code combination.

JOHN WILLIAM PEACOCK. 

